Kirklareli

Kirklareli is a province of
Turkey on the border with Bulgaria
in Thrace, on the west side of
the Yildiz (Istranca) Mountains, having a population of 340,199 as of January 2012.
The city has 6550 square kilometers of land area at an altitude of 203 meters
above sea level, with a continental climate system.

Its written history goes back to Bronze Age and
the province has witnessed many invasions throughout this long past especially
during Roman and Byzantine periods. It was captured by
the Ottomansultan Murat
I in the 14th century.

Kirklareli
is a province of natural beauty, adorned with forests and plateaus. Derekoy, Kofcaz, Demirkoy and Vize are the most densely forested areas of the province. The land is suitable for hunting and fishing, in its forests and rivers. The Istranca Mountains offer opportunities also for camping and picnicking in a sea of forest with various sport opportunities. Here, near Saka lake at Igneada, the Longos forests are declared as a national park in 2007.

Dupnisa cave in Sarpdere village, 58 kilometers northeast of the city center, is
opened to the public in 2003 and became a very popular cave amongst local people
and tourists. It was formed around 180 million years ago and has a total length of
2720 meters.

For those who would like to make use of sandy beaches and clear waters, Igneada,
Kiyikoy and Kastros are good spots, and have simple accommodation facilities.
In those places you can also taste typical Turkish kitchen
based on sea food.